Debt Dumpers - 2017

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

I always feel so sorry for people that live in cities with insane daycare rates. I live about 4-5 hours from @dayvewc (I know this because you mentioned a particular brand of rice last year that I buy lol so I looked it up) in Louisiana and luckily our going day care rate is $400-500 Montessori school runs $600 a month. We don't have a lot of daycares and they fill up fast but we have a private sitter and pay her the going rate.

But then again my husband and I who both have good jobs (I'm an admin assistant and the highest paid in my dept) and DH is a fireman who makes really good in his dept (compared to near by depts.) and our take home is only about $36k a year so the $400 is still significant for us.

Fingers crossed @Jen and Ashwin you will find a good place at a good rate. Our sitter is like family and she has been so great with our daughter.

 

[DLgal]

Daycare costs were a big reason why I became a stay at home mom. I feel for people for whom that is not an option. My sister lives in Los Angeles and up until last year (when her son started K) was paying $1300/month for daycare/preschool! Six years of that...Almost $100k. I literally would have been working to pay for daycare. It's insane.

On the other hand, you really don't want to give the job of taking care of your child to the lowest bidder either. It's such a conundrum.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

When baby comes we will be paying $1600 a month for FT daycare for 2. Luckily both my husband and I make enough that that is only half of either one of our paychecks. Even if it was all of my paycheck I would still work. Why? Because time away from work negatively impacts a woman's lifetime earning potential. That is a big deal to me as I consider college costs, retirement, taking care of elderly parents and siblings, etc. Luckily my daughter loves daycare and it has been beneficial to her in a way I know I couldn't be if I was a SAHM. I respect SAHMs, it is a tough job. It just isn't the right choice for me or my family.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Daycare costs were a big reason why I became a stay at home mom. I feel for people for whom that is not an option. My sister lives in Los Angeles and up until last year (when her son started K) was paying $1300/month for daycare/preschool! Six years of that...Almost $100k. I literally would have been working to pay for daycare. It's insane.

On the other hand, you really don't want to give the job of taking care of your child to the lowest bidder either. It's such a conundrum.

I honestly don't feel bad at all that being a SAHM isn't an option. I never had plans to quit my job. Over the past 15 years, I worked hard in school and built my career. I don't want to feel that was all for nothing. I really look forward to being the best mother that I can be, but I think part of that is working hard at my job to support my family. I know that this wouldn't work for everyone. And I respect that people can make choices that they believe are the best for their own families, whether that is to work or be a SAHM/SAHD or go back to the work force after their kids hit school age. I just feel so blessed that I have this great group of people here to share their own experiences with me so that I can make better, more informed decisions as I work through this new chapter in my life. You are all so awesome and helpful.

 

[DLgal]

I honestly don't feel bad at all that being a SAHM isn't an option. I never had plans to quit my job. Over the past 15 years, I worked hard in school and built my career. I don't want to feel that was all for nothing. I really look forward to being the best mother that I can be, but I think part of that is working hard at my job to support my family. I know that this wouldn't work for everyone. And I respect that people can make choices that they believe are the best for their own families, whether that is to work or be a SAHM/SAHD or go back to the work force after their kids hit school age. I just feel so blessed that I have this great group of people here to share their own experiences with me so that I can make better, more informed decisions as I work through this new chapter in my life. You are all so awesome and helpful.

I never said I felt bad for people who need daycare. I said I "feel for" them, as in, I sympathize with the plight of the working parents and wish that daycare costs weren't such a burden. And I feel for those who wish they could stay home but can't, financially.

Our two kids have special needs, so I consider myself VERY fortunate to be in the position to be able to stay home with them because even if I had been working, I would have had to stop due to the endless therapies and appointments we had in the younger days. Thankfully we can manage on my husband's income, and since we are military, I would have had a very hard time maintaining my own career with moving every few years. The decision to stay home was one we made before having kids and as fate would have it, it's what our kids ended up needing as well so it worked out. It does worry me that I don't really have a way to support our family if something happens to my husband, but that's what LOT$ of insurance is for, I guess.

However, being a one income family also means I stalk the Debt Dumpers board, so there's that.

I hope this daycare near you works out! It's one less thing to stress over.

 

[hmack]

I'm guessing you might be in Maine? My parents are in Bangor and my sister is in Scarborough. Sounds about what they got. Stay safe and warm!

yep. I'm in Central Maine. we're looking for another foot or so of the white stuff tomorrow.

the good - the storms are forcing me to actually meal plan instead of assuming I can get to the grocery store every day. Which is a habit I really need to break. tonight we had breakfast for dinner and DH made pancakes for the family. mine were the only ones he made heart-shaped. sometimes it's the small, sweet and budget-friendly Valentine gestures that really are the best. (that and he cleaned off my car for me, so I guess I'll keep him around at least until Spring )

 

[dayvewc]

Completely off topic rant coming

So, 21 months ago I did something to my back. I've been seeing a chiropractor at least weekly, my PCP on a regular basis, who also sent me to an orthopedic specialist who sent me to therapy and while in better in still in constant pain. So, my PCP sent me to a pain specialist (thank you federal drug regulations and opioid abusers on the need to start limiting pain prescriptions). The pain specialist (PS) set me up for an MRI today, at noon. Had to miss an entire day of work because the hospital is 2 hours away from work. Got there and then we discovered my shoulders are too wide to fit in the MRI chamber. Have to reschedule to a unit with a larger machine next Wednesday, that is further away, so another day off and because of other issues this year I'm out of sick days to take. What a wasted day.

On another topic, in 2012 I bought a 10 day non-expiring WDW ticket and only used 5 days. Since then I've had an annual pass whenever I went back to WDW. A couple of weeks ago I was checking the My Disney Experience app and noticed there was only 1 day left on the ticket. I got in touch with customer service and they looked into it and discovered that on my last trip the system took days from that ticket instead of my AP. So they fixed it, but now it shows 9 days left instead of 5. Is that just a bonus, or did they correct the 4 days twice? Trying to figure out if I should just say "thank you for the pixie dust" or let them know it now has 4 days too many. The agent I spoke with only said the mistake was corrected and didn't mention any extra days, so I kind of think it might have been an accident. And I'm not objecting to free days at Disney, but that's also not what I was asking them for or expected.

I live about 4-5 hours from @dayvewc (I know this because you mentioned a particular brand of rice last year that I buy lol so I looked it up) in Louisiana

Which part of Louisiana? When I worked in far south west Arkansas, about 30 minutes from the state line, I used to tell people I lived just north of LA. Lol Now I'm in the eastern delta region close-ish to Memphis

 

[sweetpeama]

@dayvewc I will volunteer to give you some great places to visit in Montana and even in the Black Hills of South Dakota if your interested.

 

[dayvewc]

@dayvewc I will volunteer to give you some great places to visit in Montana and even in the Black Hills of South Dakota if your interested.

Thank you! I would greatly appreciate ideas of places to visit when I make my trips. Right now, I don't have any plans past this summer, but I have started a list of places to try and see in each state when I get there.

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

@dayvewc North Central La towards Monroe but not in Monroe lol aka the boondocks

 

[dayvewc]

@dayvewc North Central La towards Monroe but not in Monroe lol aka the boondocks

I know that general area. I used to drive down to get on I-20 at Monroe. Wasn't necessarily the shortest route to where I was going, but generally the quickest way. Also briefly considered applying at the State Farm regional center there when I was in college.

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

I know that general area. I used to drive down to get on I-20 at Monroe. Wasn't necessarily the shortest route to where I was going, but generally the quickest way. Also briefly considered applying at the State Farm regional center there when I was in college.

I like it around here don't get me wrong but def a drive to anywhere. If you can stay on I-20 it isn't bad. My parents live in Natchitoches though so it's a drive to visit them.

 

[scrappydew]

Well, a set back. My son overloaded the washer. I thought it could be repaired, until my husband was looking at the back and says there is a big rusted place that is just a time bomb waiting to happen.

Went to Lowes, and the ones we can afford don't have great reviews. Any recommendations?

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Well, a set back. My son overloaded the washer. I thought it could be repaired, until my husband was looking at the back and says there is a big rusted place that is just a time bomb waiting to happen.

Went to Lowes, and the ones we can afford don't have great reviews. Any recommendations?

Not sure which machines you're looking at, but DH and I decided that when our washer breaks we are going to get a simple top load washer. The newer models are too much trouble.

 

[scrappydew]

Not sure which machines you're looking at, but DH and I decided that when our washer breaks we are going to get a simple top load washer. The newer models are too much trouble.

Yes, I definitely want a top loading one. I have heard too much about the front loaders to feel confident spending that much money on one.

Our old top loader was 17 years old, and never an issue till now!

 

[Woth2982]

Well, a set back. My son overloaded the washer. I thought it could be repaired, until my husband was looking at the back and says there is a big rusted place that is just a time bomb waiting to happen.

Went to Lowes, and the ones we can afford don't have great reviews. Any recommendations?

I have bought several appliances at Best Buy. I got the 12 month (or more in some cases) 0% financing, and bought open box items. My $1,800 stove I got for $900 and my $800 dryer I got for $450! Worth taking a look!

 

[dina444444]

Well, a set back. My son overloaded the washer. I thought it could be repaired, until my husband was looking at the back and says there is a big rusted place that is just a time bomb waiting to happen.

Went to Lowes, and the ones we can afford don't have great reviews. Any recommendations?

I bought this LG washing machine at Best Buy last spring. I really like it. My final price on it was $494 after I got back about $85 through Citi price rewind.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-4-5-...-loading-washer-white/9667333.p?skuId=9667333

 

[Eureka]

I honestly don't feel bad at all that being a SAHM isn't an option. I never had plans to quit my job. Over the past 15 years, I worked hard in school and built my career. I don't want to feel that was all for nothing. I really look forward to being the best mother that I can be, but I think part of that is working hard at my job to support my family. I know that this wouldn't work for everyone. And I respect that people can make choices that they believe are the best for their own families, whether that is to work or be a SAHM/SAHD or go back to the work force after their kids hit school age. I just feel so blessed that I have this great group of people here to share their own experiences with me so that I can make better, more informed decisions as I work through this new chapter in my life. You are all so awesome and helpful.

It was not my plan either, but our plan got derailed. I was not a really happy SAHM and like you, spent a lot of time, money and effort to get to where I was career-wise. Setting that on hold for a long time was hard. Thank goodness after a year of not working at all, I was able to switch gears in terms of work and freelance, or else I would have gone crazy. It's only been as the kids have gotten older that I've appreciated more the time I was home with them (when I freelanced I worked around their schedules).

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

It was not my plan either, but our plan got derailed. I was not a really happy SAHM and like you, spent a lot of time, money and effort to get to where I was career-wise. Setting that on hold for a long time was hard. Thank goodness after a year of not working at all, I was able to switch gears in terms of work and freelance, or else I would have gone crazy. It's only been as the kids have gotten older that I've appreciated more the time I was home with them (when I freelanced I worked around their schedules).

For DH and I, if one of us really had to leave our job, it would have to be DH. I just make a lot more than him given that he is 6 years younger and just at the start of his career, where as I am now 6 years. The financial reality is that even if we are paying $20k a year for child care for 2 kids (the goal is for two kids, about 2-3 years apart), it will be better for us both to continue working. That is our plan, barring anything really unforeseen. And if plans have to change, then we will work it out.

 

[Eureka]

For DH and I, if one of us really had to leave our job, it would have to be DH. I just make a lot more than him given that he is 6 years younger and just at the start of his career, where as I am now 6 years. The financial reality is that even if we are paying $20k a year for child care for 2 kids (the goal is for two kids, about 2-3 years apart), it will be better for us both to continue working. That is our plan, barring anything really unforeseen. And if plans have to change, then we will work it out.

I had no idea you robbed the cradle! Lol. (Dh is almost 9 years older than I am, so I can't really talk about age differences)